Sunday, August 8, 2010

My First Magazine Cover (Ketut from Eat, Pray, Love)!


"I want God to play in my bloodstream the way sunlight amuses itself on the water."
— Elizabeth Gilbert
For those of you who haven't heard of 'Eat, Pray, Love' by American author Elizabeth Gilbert yet, well just wait a few days, and you will. Her story takes readers on a pleasure, spiritual, and fate seeking journey through Italy (Eat), India (Pray) and finally Bali (Love), that many of us have marveled at  (envied) since she released her bestselling memoir in 2006.

'Eat, Pray, Love', the movie will be released next week (August 13) starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. If they aren't already, it's only a matter of time before Ketut Liyer, the medicine man and Wayan, the herbal healer, both from Ubud and very influential in the Love (Bali) portion of the book, will be household names.

MG Photography

In Bali for the first time in July '08, I had dragged my new friend and fellow traveler Marj along with me to have a vitamin lunch and Traditional Balinese Massage with Wayan, followed by a reading of my destiny with Ketut (my fortune was almost exactly the same as Gilbert's in the book BTW, but a good one nonetheless). Of course we took many pictures of both experiences not knowing that they may come in handy someday for...oh let's say, a feature story in a magazine? 

My friend Mike (bless him!), a writer currently living the life in Bali, wrote a compelling article about Ketut and asked if I'd like to submit some images to accompany the story. I got word in September from the Editor of 'The Bud Magazine' that they'd like to use one of my photos for the cover and a selection of both Marj and I's photos within Mike's feature for the Winter 2009 Issue.

Holding a magazine in your hands with an image that you took published on the cover is a pretty cool moment in one's photography career. But even better was to be able to share my giddiness with one of my favourite people and the very friend I experienced Bali with, Marjorie Green.
"we must take care of our families where-ever we find them."
— Elizabeth Gilbert

Read more about our visit in the original blog posting with Ketut and Wayan here.

These are the images used in the article:

TT Photography

MG Photography
"But is it such a bad thing to live like this for just a little while? Just for a few months of one's life, is it so awful to...nap in a garden, in a patch of sunlight, in the middle of the day, right next to your favorite fountain? And then to do it again the next day?"
— Elizabeth Gilbert
MG Photography
"You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."
— Elizabeth Gilbert
TT Photography
MG Photography

To see the rest of the images, visit my Eat, Pray, Love: Ketut and Wayan Gallery or view the slideshow below:

"

I'm sure watching the movie will make me ache for Bali, as I do often, but more than anything, I'm grateful to have gotten to go there at all. It is a magical and mysterious little island. Those of us who have been there know exactly what I'm talking about and those of us who haven't, should go and see for themselves!

Gilbert's book contains an unexpected plethora of insight and wisdom, causing many of us to question if we are really living the life we're meant to. Why not seize what you want from life (not what others think you should want) and find your destiny now (if you haven't already!)? I know it sounds cheezy but you never know what will happen tomorrow, in the next minute or even the next second that might forever prevent you from getting to take that leap...

...don't let  your dreams, just be dreams (ie: magazine cover, check!)

Let yourself go.

"Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be."
— Elizabeth Gilbert

4 comments:

G said...

Love it! Brilliant, Trace. I really hope this brings you some more well-deserved exposure... :) Timing this set with the movie is a good move.

Tracey Tomtene said...

Thank you G! I didn't actually mean to time it like this...just the next blog posting on my chronological list (sooooo behind!), but TOTALLY rad timing for sure. HUGS!

Melissa said...

Beautiful images! Congrats to you both! Your travel, photos, and experiences are an inspiration.

Tracey Tomtene said...

Thanks Melissa:) 'preciate it!